Aid for relieving or preventing tennis elbow injury

ABSTRACT

This device is a tennis aid for assisting the tennis player in holding the tennis racquet at the proper angle and for acting as a preventive against developing &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;tennis elbow&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or arm strain or injury, as well as providing relief to those who already have such difficulties with their elbow or forearm. It consists principally of a wide band adjustably and detachably secured about the arm or forearm of the player, and an elastic or shock cord, sometimes known as a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Bungee Cord,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; firmly secured to the band at one end and provided with a loop at the other end which will readily stretch over and secure on the handle of the tennis racquet. The player lines up the cord with the plane of the racquet and adjusts the length of the adjustable cord, to hold the racquet at the proper angle to his arm. He plays in the usual manner, and this aid makes it easier to play and avoids straining his forearm or elbow. In addition, inasmuch as it facilitates holding the racquet at the best optimum angle, it is very useful for the novice player when taking instructions in proper play in tennis.

ljnited States Patent 11 1 Hurwitz 1 1 All) FOR RELIEVING OR PREVENTING TENNIS ELBOW INJURY I76] inventor: Arthur Hurwitz, 2780 NE. l83rd St., Century 21, Apt, 2007, North v Miami Beach, Fla. 33160 I221 Filed: July 16, 1973 1211 Appl. No.: 379,562

[52] US. Cl. 273/29 A, 273/183 B, 273/189 R, i 273/29 R, 273/73 R [51] Int. Cl A63b 69/38 {58] Field of Search 273/75, 73 R, 29 R, 29 A, 273/191 BR, 54 B, 188, 189 B, 190 B Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gustave Miller int 3,858,881

[ 1 ,ian.7, 1975 [57] 1 ABSTRACT This device is a tennis aid for assisting the tennis player in holding the tennis :racquet at the proper angle and for acting as a preventive against developing tennis elbow" or arm strain or injury, as well as providing relief to those who already have such difficulties with their elbow or forearm. It consists principally of a wide band adjustably and detachably secured about the arm or forearm of the player, and an elastic or shock cord, sometimes knownas a Bungee Cord," firmly secured to the band at one end and provided with a loop at the other end which will readily stretch over and secure on the handle of the tennis racquet.

The player lines up the cord with the plane of the racquet and adjusts the length of the adjustable cord, to hold the racquet at the proper angle to his arm. He

plays in the usualmanner, and this aid makes it easier to play and avoids straining his forearm or elbow, ln

- addition, inasmuch as it facilitates holding the racquet at the best optimum angle, it is very useful for the novice player when taking instructions in proper play in tennis.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures AID FOR RELIEVING OR PREVENTING TENNIS ELBOW INJURY BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION As set forth in TIME magazine,-May 14, 1973;

Tennis elbow is apparently set off by the repeated jarring impact of theball on the racquet. The shock is transmitted to the arm, where it raises havoc for reasons that doctors, despite long experience with tenniselbow victims, still do not fully understand. Most of the pain seems to be caused by inflammation of the ligaments that join the two bones of the forearm the radius and ulna to-the two spurs, or epicondyles, on the end of the humerus, or upper arm bone.

That inflammation may well result from the partial avulsion, or tearing away, of the ligaments and tendons from their bony moorings. But gout or other arthritic disease, as well as softening of the cartilage a normal result of the aging proces,scan also contribute to it. Indeed, tennis elbow is often an afflication of the aging athlete. The ailment rarely affects anyone under 30; most of its victims are over 40. No one seems certain about the best way to treat tennis elbow. Some doctors recommend complete rest for the arm. Some players, influenced by folklore, wear copper bracelets 'and report beneficial effects despite the scoffmg of medical scientists. A few doctors and many tennis pros suggest a more practical remedy: wearing a tight elastic band below the elbow on the theory that compression of the arm decreases the tension on the forearm muscles.

Usually doctors recommend aspirin, which appears to have an anti-inflammatory effect, to relieve minor cases of tennis elbow. Some find .that phenylbutazone, a nonhormonal, anti-inflammatory drug that combats both inflammation and the pain that accompanies it, will help inmore serious instancesnPersistent cases can be treated by injections of cortisone, a process that many tennis addicts find as painful as tennis elbow itself. As a last resort, some doctors even advise surgery to release the tension on arm tendons or ligaments or trim down oversize epicondyles. In some cases, however, tennis elbow disappears almost as suddenly as it began, often without treatment.

One orthopedic surgeon at the new Institute of Sports Medicine at New York .Citys Lenox Hill Hospital, believes that the best cure for tennis elbow is prevention. He points out that weak forearm muscles, an improper grip or a tendency to hit the ball incorrectly can all contribute to tennis elbow. He recommends exercises to strengthen arm muscles and lessons that will improve stroking and serving, thus reducing shock to the arm. In support of his treatment, he notes that professionals seldom suffer from tennis elbow; the ailment is endemic among once-a-week players and hackers.

Professional oramateur, most tennis addicts with tennis elbow are determined to keep playing at any cost. Some go so far as to relearn the game with their other arm, and this is why this invention is so valuable.

A discussion of this problem also appeared in The New York Times of June 15, 1973 under Tennis Elbow Expert."

OBJECT OF THIS INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a device to be used by a tennis player during play that will prevent the development of this condition of tennis 'elbow, as well as help cure the condition if already existing.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment between the players forearm and the handle of the tennis racquet that acts both to prevent tennis elbow or to cure it if already in existence.

Still a further object of this invention is to use an existing arm band and connect it by an elastic or shock cord to the racquet handle, the connection being preferably in the plane of the racquet and arm as the racquet is held in proper playing position.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a tennis aid that helps hold the racquet in the proper playing position and at the same time prevents strain or stretching of the forearm or wrist, or overextending the same while playing tennis.

Another object of this invention is to prevent overextension of the players forearm or wrist during play and thus preventing development of the affliction commonly known as tennis elbow."

Yet another object of this invention is to assist the novice player in properly holding; the tennis racket during play at the best optimum angle, best for playing and best for preventing injury to the forearm or wrist.

A yetfurther object of this inventionis to provide a tennis aid facilitating a tennis instructor in teaching the novice player how to properly hold and use the racquet for the best playing results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE FIGURES With the above and other related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the tennis aid of this invention in operative position on a tennis racquet and the players forearm.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tennis aid per se showing the details thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side edgeview of the buckle end of the band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION There is shown at A the forearm of a player holding a tennis racquet by its handle H. The tennis aid 10 of this invention is provided for connecting the forearm A to the handle H in such a manner as to aid the player in playing the game of tennis, and yet at the same time prevent him from straining his arm A, prevent him from extending his arm so as to cause painful stretching of the ligaments, to prevent development of tennis elbow" as well as to help cure it if already present.

The tennis aid 10 includes a band 12, 2 or 3 inches wide, more or less, of substantially non-stretchable fabric. However, stretchable or elastic fabric may be used, if desired. The free end 14 of this band 12 is hemmed with a finishing tape 16, to protect it from possible unravelling. A hook portion piece I8 of fabric separable fastener of the type commercially known as Velcro is secured by stitching 20 longitudinally of the free end 14 of the band 12.

At the other end 22 of the band 12, an oblong loop metal buckle 24 is secured by a double back portion 26 of band 12. The back portion 26 extends through the loop buckle 24 and is suitably secured in double back position, as by stitching 38 or the like. A pile portion 30, of considerably greater length than hook portion 18, is secured by stitching 32 starting from the buckle end 22 of band and on the same surface therewith.

As shown in FIG. 1, this band 12 is secured at the desired position on the forearm A by inserting free end 14 of the band 12 through the loop buckle 24 and the free end 14 is doubled back and then secured firmly against Velcro pile portion 30 by interengagement therewith of the Velcro hook portion 18. As thus far described, the band 12 and its securing means are well known and on the market for the purpose of providing support to the wrist in the same manner that wide leather bands are often placed about the wrist.

This invention consists in providing means for elastically attaching a tennis racquet R to this band 10. This is done by firmly securing a ring 34 thereto, as by stitching 36 on the buckle end 22 of the band 12. A snap hook 38, snapped on the ring 34, has an elastic or shock cord 40, sometimes known commercially as a Bungee Cord. The free end 42 of cord 40 is extended through the snap ring eye. It is adjustably secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by a wedge clip 44, so that the length may be adjusted as desired, according to the size of the player and its location on the arm A. A loop 46, secured by a clamp '48, is provided at the free end of elastic cord 40 to be extended over the handle H, as shown.

OPERATION OF THIS INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1, the band 12, with its elastic cord 40, is secured about the forearm A-in the desired location, and the loop 46 is passed over the handle H of racquet R to the desired location, the length of elastic cord 40 and its position being such that the racquet R, when gravation because the arm A is prevented from overextending.

' ABSTRACT OF THE DRAWING A Forearm R Racquet H Handle 10 Tennis aid invention 12 Band 14 Free end of band l6 Finishing tape Velcro" tape hook portion Stitching on 18 to'l4 22 Buckle end of band 24 Buckle loop I 26 Doubled back portion of band 28 Stitching securing 26 to 22 30 -Velcro tape pile portion 32 Stitching securing '30 to 12 34 Ring 36 Stitching securing 34 to 22 3.8 Snap hook 40 Elastic cord or shock cord" -Continued 42 Free end of 40 44 Wedging type ad ustment 46 Loop extendable over H 48 Clamp SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The Shock cord, attached to the racquet just above the grip and anchored to the forearm band, supports the weight of the racquet when the latter is in waiting or ready position and during the swing itself. This support of the racquet by the shock cord reduces almost completely the strain against muscle, tendon and ligament in the forearm and elbow area normally required to support the racquet.

As the racquet is swung into the ball, the ensuing impact of the ball against the racquet is considerably cushioned by the action of the shock cord, reducing greatly the strain occasioned by the impact. It also tends to lessen the degree of forearm extension.

When properly attached and used, this tennis aid elbow support and brace serves as a guide for attaining the proper angle or relationship of racquet to forearm, enabling the beginner or novice player to better feel" the proper racquet position. In addition, and especially for young players, it will offer protection against strain of elbow and forearm ligaments and tendons during the learning process. This tennis elbow aid and support offers little or no interference with any of the tennis strokes forehand, backhand, serve or overhand smash.

This support and brace can also be used and attached to all types of racquets including the games of squash, badminton, paddle ball, paddle racquets, etc., and the term.tennis aid as used herein is generic to all such types of games involving the use of racquets, and

should be so interpreted. This racquet aid is an improvement over US. Pat. No. 2,189,997, amongst others.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A tennis game player aid (10) comprising a band (12) of a length to be snugly securable about the forearm (A) of the player, said band (12) including a buckle loop (24) secured (26) at one end (22) of said band, a substantial length of separable fabric fastener (30) secured (32) on said band and extending toward said buckle loop end (22), a comparatively short length of complementary separable fabric fastener (18) secured (20) on said band adjacent its other end (14), a ring (34) securely fastened (36) to said bukcle loop end (22) of said band (12), an elastic cord (40), hook means (38) securing one end (42) of said elastic cord (40) to said ring (34), the other end (48) of said elastic cord (40) being formed in a loop (46) to extend over and secure about a tennis racquet handle (H), said elastic cord being of a length substantially equal to the distance between a tennis racquet handle and the forearm of the hand grasping said handle, whereby movement of the racquet (R) away from the forearm (A) during play of the game is yieldably resisted by said elastic cord (40) while the forearm (A) of the player is held in compression by said snugly secured band (12).

2. The tennis game player aid (10) of claim 1, and adjustable means (44) securing said one cord end (42) to said hook means (38), said hook means being a snap hook. 

1. A tennis game player aid (10) comprising a band (12) of a length to be snugly securable about the forearm (A) of the player, said band (12) including a buckle loop (24) secured (26) at one end (22) of said band, a substantial length of separable fabric fastener (30) secured (32) on said band and extending toward said buckle loop end (22), a comparatively short length of compelemntary separable fabric fastener (18) secured (20) on said band adjacent its other end (14), a ring (34) securely fastened (36) to said bukcle loop end (22) of said band (12), an elastic cord (40), hook means (38) securing one end (42) of said elastic cord (40) to said ring (34), the other end (48) of said elastic cord (40) being formed in a loop (46) to extend over and secure about a tennis racquet handle (H), said elastic cord being of a length substantially equal to the distance between a tennis racquet handle and the forearm of the hand grasping said handle, whereby movement of the racquet (R) away from the forearm (A) during play of the game is yieldably resisted by said elastic cord (40) while the forearm (A) of the player is held in compression by said snugly secured band (12).
 2. The tennis game player aid (10) of claim 1, and adjustable means (44) securing said one cord end (42) to said hook means (38), said hook means being a snap hook. 